Ministry of Commerce & Industry
India’s Foreign Trade: March 2019
India’s overall exports  in April-March 2018-19are estimated to be USD 535.45Billion, exhibiting a positive growth of 7.97per cent over the same period last year. Overall imports in April-March2018-19are estimated to be USD 631.29Billion, exhibiting a positive growth of 8.48per cent over the same period last year.Note: Services data pertains to April-February 2018-19 as February 2019 is the latest data available as per RBI’s Press Release dated 15th April 2019. It is arrived at by adding quarterly data of RBI for Q1, Q2 & Q3 of 2018-19 with Month-wise QE dataof RBI’s press release forJanuary &February 2018-19. This data is provisional and subject to revision by RBI. In addition, it may be noted that data for March 2019 is estimated and added to the April-February 2018-19 data of RBI to calculate the Overall Trade Deficit for April-March 2018-19. It will be revised based on RBI’s next press release for March 2019.
I. MERCHANDISE TRADE
EXPORTS 
Exports inMarch 2019 were USD32.55Billion, as compared to USD29.32 Billion in March 2018, exhibiting a positive growth of 11.02per cent. In Rupee terms, exports were Rs. 2,26,138.76Crore in March 2019, as compared to Rs. 190,619.25Crore in March 2018, registering a positive growth of 18.63per cent.
InMarch 2019, major commodity groups of export showing positive growth over the corresponding month of last year are
Cumulative value of exports for the period April-March 2018-19 was USD331.02Billion  as against USD303.53Billion  during the period April-March 2017-18, registering a positive growth of 9.06per cent in Dollar terms .
Non-petroleum and Non Gems and Jewellery exports in March 2019 were USD25.59Billion, as compared to USD22.57Billion in March 2018, exhibiting a positive growth of 13.41per cent. Non-petroleum and Non Gems and Jewellery exports in April-March 2018-19 were USD243.02Billion, as compared to USD224.52Billion for the corresponding period in 2017-18, an increase of 8.24per cent.
IMPORTS
Imports in March 2019 were USD43.44Billion , which was 1.44per cent higher in Dollar terms and 8.39per cent higher in Rupee terms over imports of USD42.82Billion  in March 2018. Cumulative value of imports for the period April-March 2018-19 was USD507.44Billion , as against USD465.58Billion  during the period April-March 2017-18, registering a positive growth of 8.99per cent in Dollar terms .
Major commodity groups of import showing negative growth in March 2019 over the corresponding month of last year are:
CRUDE OIL AND NON-OIL IMPORTS:
Oil imports inMarch 2019 were USD11.75Billion , which was 5.55percent higher in Dollar terms , compared to USD11.13Billion  in March 2018. Oil imports in April-March 2018-19 were USD140.47Billion  which was 29.27per cent higher in Dollar terms  compared to USD108.66Billion , over the same period last year.
In this connection it is mentioned that the global Brent price  has decreased by 0.06% in March 2019 vis-à-vis March 2018 as per data available from World Bank .
Non-oil imports inMarch 2019 were estimated at USD31.69Billion  which was at-par in Dollar terms , compared to USD31.69Billion  in March 2018. Non-oil imports in April-March 2018-19 were USD366.97Billion  which was 2.82per cent higher in Dollar terms , compared to USD356.92Billion  in April-March2017-18.
Non-Oil and Non-Gold imports wereUSD28.42billion in March 2019, recording a negative growth of 2.67per cent, as compared to Non-Oil and Non-Gold imports in March 2018. Non-Oil and Non-Gold imports wereUSD334.15billion in April-March 2018-19, recording a positive growth of 3.37per cent, as compared to Non-Oil and Non-Gold imports in April-March 2017-18.
II. TRADE IN SERVICES 
EXPORTS 
Exports inFebruary2019 were USD16.58Billion  registering a negative growth of 6.54per cent in dollar terms, vis-à-vis January 2019. .
IMPORTS 
Imports inFebruary2019 were USD9.81Billion  registering a negative growth of 11.05per cent in dollar terms,vis-à-vis January 2019. .
III.TRADE BALANCE
MERCHANDISE: The trade deficit for March 2019 was estimated at USD10.89Billion as against the deficit of USD13.51Billion inMarch 2018.
SERVICES: As per RBI’s Press Release dated 15th April 2019, the trade balance in Services  for February, 2019 is estimated at USD6.78Billion.
OVERALL TRADE BALANCE: Taking merchandise and services together, overall trade deficit for April-March 2018-19is estimated at USD95.85Billion as compared to USD 86.05 Billion in April-March 2017-18.Note: Services data pertains to April-February 2018-19 as February 2019 is the latest data available as per RBI’s Press Release dated 15th April 2019. It is arrived at by adding quarterly data of RBI for Q1, Q2 & Q3 of 2018-19 with Month-wise QE dataof RBI’s press release for January & February 2018-19. This data is provisional and subject to revision by RBI. In addition, it may be noted that data for March 2019 is estimated and added to the April-February 2018-19 data of RBI to calculate the Overall Trade Deficit for April-March 2018-19. It will be revised based on RBI’s next press release for March 2019.
MERCHANDISE TRADE
|
|
EXPORTS & IMPORTS: 
|
|

|
|
|
|
MARCH
|
|
APRIL-MARCH
|
|
EXPORTS 
|
||
|
|
|
2017-18
|
|
29.32
|
|
303.53
|
|
2018-19
|
|
32.55
|
|
331.02
|
|
%Growth 2018-19/ 2017-18
|
|
11.02
|
|
9.06
|
|
IMPORTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
2017-18
|
|
42.82
|
|
465.58
|
|
2018-19
|
|
43.44
|
|
507.44
|
|
%Growth 2018-19/ 2017-18
|
|
1.44
|
|
8.99
|
|
TRADE BALANCE
|
|
|
|
|
|
2017-18
|
|
-13.51
|
|
-162.05
|
|
2018-19
|
|
-10.89
|
|
-176.42
|
|
EXPORTS & IMPORTS: 
|
|

|
|
|
|
MARCH
|
|
APRIL-MARCH
|
|
EXPORTS
|
||
|
|
|
2017-18
|
|
1,90,619.25
|
|
19,56,514.53
|
|
2018-19
|
|
2,26,138.76
|
|
23,14,429.08
|
|
%Growth 2018-19/ 2017-18
|
|
18.63
|
|
18.29
|
|
IMPORTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
2017-18
|
|
2,78,441.24
|
|
30,01,033.43
|
|
2018-19
|
|
3,01,814.05
|
|
35,48,004.48
|
|
%Growth 2018-19/ 2017-18
|
|
8.39
|
|
18.23
|
|
TRADE BALANCE
|
|
|
|
|
|
2017-18
|
|
-87,821.99
|
|
-10,44,518.91
|
|
2018-19
|
|
-75,675.29
|
|
-12,33,575.40
SERVICES TRADE
|
|
EXPORTS & IMPORTS  : 
|
|

|
|
FEBRUARY 2019
|
|
APRIL-FEBRUARY 2018-19
|
|
EXPORTS 
|
|
16.58
|
|
187.85
|
|
IMPORTS 
|
|
9.81
|
|
114.10
|
|
TRADE BALANCE
|
|
6.78
|
|
73.75
|
|
EXPORTS & IMPORTS : 
|
|

|
|
FEBRUARY 2019
|
|
APRIL-FEBRUARY 2018-19
|
|
EXPORTS 
|
|
1,18,114.23
|
|
13,14,237.86
|
|
IMPORTS 
|
|
69,861.46
|
|
7,98,280.24
|
|
TRADE BALANCE
|
|
48,252.77
|
|
5,15,957.62
Note:Services data pertains to April-February 2018-19 as February 2019 is the latest data available as per RBI’s Press Release dated 15th April 2019. It is arrived at by adding quarterly data of RBI for Q1, Q2 & Q3 of 2018-19 with Month-wise QE dataof RBI’s press release for January & February 2018-19. This has been used along with the estimate of service exports and imports for March 2019, as explained in page-1 for the purpose of this Press note.
QUICK ESTIMATES FOR SELECTED MAJOR COMMODITIES FOR MARCH 2019
TRADE: EXPORT
|
|
Sl. No.
|
|
Commodities
|
|

|
|
% change
|
|
MAR'18
|
|
MAR'19
|
|
MAR'19
|
|
1
|
|
Tea
|
|
442.91
|
|
517.51
|
|
16.84
|
|
2
|
|
Coffee
|
|
747.82
|
|
736.49
|
|
-1.52
|
|
3
|
|
Rice
|
|
5194.35
|
|
6445.45
|
|
24.09
|
|
4
|
|
Other cereals
|
|
257.27
|
|
190.17
|
|
-26.08
|
|
5
|
|
Tobacco
|
|
593.53
|
|
658.62
|
|
10.97
|
|
6
|
|
Spices
|
|
2257.27
|
|
2703.01
|
|
19.75
|
|
7
|
|
Cashew
|
|
359.03
|
|
395.88
|
|
10.26
|
|
8
|
|
Oil Meals
|
|
459.81
|
|
1347.52
|
|
193.06
|
|
9
|
|
Oil seeds
|
|
713.31
|
|
810.60
|
|
13.64
|
|
10
|
|
Fruits & Vegetables
|
|
2114.92
|
|
2162.86
|
|
2.27
|
|
11
|
|
Cereal preparations & miscellaneous processed items
|
|
919.25
|
|
1033.31
|
|
12.41
|
|
12
|
|
Marine Products
|
|
3678.18
|
|
3666.57
|
|
-0.32
|
|
13
|
|
Meat, dairy & poultry products
|
|
2684.71
|
|
2874.80
|
|
7.08
|
|
14
|
|
Iron Ore
|
|
1148.72
|
|
1071.65
|
|
-6.71
|
|
15
|
|
Mica, Coal & Other Ores, Minerals including processed minerals
|
|
2665.06
|
|
3228.70
|
|
21.15
|
|
16
|
|
Leather & leather products
|
|
2864.46
|
|
2866.29
|
|
0.06
|
|
17
|
|
Ceramic products & glassware
|
|
1306.92
|
|
1680.79
|
|
28.61
|
|
18
|
|
Gems & Jewellery
|
|
22342.51
|
|
23785.92
|
|
6.46
|
|
19
|
|
Drugs & Pharmaceuticals
|
|
11456.79
|
|
13905.76
|
|
21.38
|
|
20
|
|
Organic & Inorganic Chemicals
|
|
12931.71
|
|
16164.48
|
|
25.00
|
|
21
|
|
Engineering Goods
|
|
52656.66
|
|
65420.06
|
|
24.24
|
|
22
|
|
Electronic Goods
|
|
4500.13
|
|
6472.16
|
|
43.82
|
|
23
|
|
Cotton Yarn/Fabs./made-ups, Handloom Products etc.
|
|
6651.12
|
|
7264.37
|
|
9.22
|
|
24
|
|
Man-made Yarn/Fabs./made-ups etc.
|
|
3047.99
|
|
3236.50
|
|
6.18
|
|
25
|
|
RMG of all Textiles
|
|
9698.54
|
|
11931.51
|
|
23.02
|
|
26
|
|
Jute Mfg. including Floor Covering
|
|
161.43
|
|
162.73
|
|
0.81
|
|
27
|
|
Carpet
|
|
816.45
|
|
883.64
|
|
8.23
|
|
28
|
|
Handicrafts excl. handmade carpet
|
|
1210.27
|
|
1191.95
|
|
-1.51
|
|
29
|
|
Petroleum Products
|
|
21539.67
|
|
24524.34
|
|
13.86
|
|
30
|
|
Plastic & Linoleum
|
|
4729.46
|
|
5341.90
|
|
12.95
|
||
|
Sub Total
|
|
180150.27
|
|
212675.54
|
|
18.05
|
||
|
GRAND TOTAL
|
|
190619.25
|
|
226138.76
|
|
18.63
Note 1: Grand total is inclusive of component ‘Other’.
Note 2: The figures for MARCH'19 and MARCH'18 are provisional and subject to change
QUICK ESTIMATES FOR SELECTED MAJOR COMMODITIES FOR MARCH 2019
TRADE: EXPORT
|
|
Sl. No.
|
|
Commodities
|
|

|
|
% change
|
|
MAR'18
|
|
MAR'19
|
|
MAR'19
|
|
1
|
|
Tea
|
|
68.12
|
|
74.48
|
|
9.34
|
|
2
|
|
Coffee
|
|
115.01
|
|
106.00
|
|
-7.83
|
|
3
|
|
Rice
|
|
798.87
|
|
927.69
|
|
16.13
|
|
4
|
|
Other cereals
|
|
39.57
|
|
27.37
|
|
-30.83
|
|
5
|
|
Tobacco
|
|
91.28
|
|
94.79
|
|
3.85
|
|
6
|
|
Spices
|
|
347.16
|
|
389.04
|
|
12.06
|
|
7
|
|
Cashew
|
|
55.22
|
|
56.98
|
|
3.19
|
|
8
|
|
Oil Meals
|
|
70.72
|
|
193.95
|
|
174.25
|
|
9
|
|
Oil seeds
|
|
109.70
|
|
116.67
|
|
6.35
|
|
10
|
|
Fruits & Vegetables
|
|
325.27
|
|
311.30
|
|
-4.29
|
|
11
|
|
Cereal preparations & miscellaneous processed items
|
|
141.38
|
|
148.72
|
|
5.19
|
|
12
|
|
Marine Products
|
|
565.69
|
|
527.73
|
|
-6.71
|
|
13
|
|
Meat, dairy & poultry products
|
|
412.90
|
|
413.77
|
|
0.21
|
|
14
|
|
Iron Ore
|
|
176.67
|
|
154.24
|
|
-12.70
|
|
15
|
|
Mica, Coal & Other Ores, Minerals including processed minerals
|
|
409.88
|
|
464.70
|
|
13.37
|
|
16
|
|
Leather & leather products
|
|
440.54
|
|
412.54
|
|
-6.36
|
|
17
|
|
Ceramic products & glassware
|
|
201.00
|
|
241.91
|
|
20.35
|
|
18
|
|
Gems & Jewellery
|
|
3436.18
|
|
3423.49
|
|
-0.37
|
|
19
|
|
Drugs & Pharmaceuticals
|
|
1762.01
|
|
2001.45
|
|
13.59
|
|
20
|
|
Organic & Inorganic Chemicals
|
|
1988.84
|
|
2326.54
|
|
16.98
|
|
21
|
|
Engineering Goods
|
|
8098.37
|
|
9415.86
|
|
16.27
|
|
22
|
|
Electronic Goods
|
|
692.10
|
|
931.53
|
|
34.59
|
|
23
|
|
Cotton Yarn/Fabs./made-ups, Handloom Products etc.
|
|
1022.91
|
|
1045.56
|
|
2.21
|
|
24
|
|
Man-made Yarn/Fabs./made-ups etc.
|
|
468.77
|
|
465.83
|
|
-0.63
|
|
25
|
|
RMG of all Textiles
|
|
1491.59
|
|
1717.29
|
|
15.13
|
|
26
|
|
Jute Mfg. including Floor Covering
|
|
24.83
|
|
23.42
|
|
-5.68
|
|
27
|
|
Carpet
|
|
125.57
|
|
127.18
|
|
1.28
|
|
28
|
|
Handicrafts excl. hand made carpet
|
|
186.13
|
|
171.56
|
|
-7.83
|
|
29
|
|
Petroleum Products
|
|
3312.71
|
|
3529.77
|
|
6.55
|
|
30
|
|
Plastic & Linoleum
|
|
727.37
|
|
768.86
|
|
5.70
|
||
|
Sub Total
|
|
27706.36
|
|
30610.22
|
|
10.48
|
||
|
GRAND TOTAL
|
|
29316.43
|
|
32547.97
|
|
11.02
Note 1: Exports include Re-Exports.
Note 2: The figures for MARCH'19 and MARCH'18 are provisional and subject to change
Note 3: Grand total is inclusive of component ‘Other’.
QUICK ESTIMATES FOR SELECTED MAJOR COMMODITIES FOR MARCH 2019
TRADE: IMPORT
|
|
Sl. No.
|
|
Commodities
|
|

|
|
% change
|
|
MAR'18
|
|
MAR'19
|
|
MAR'19
|
|
1
|
|
Cotton Raw & Waste
|
|
347.84
|
|
404.04
|
|
16.16
|
|
2
|
|
Vegetable Oil
|
|
5476.77
|
|
6701.23
|
|
22.36
|
|
3
|
|
Pulses
|
|
341.00
|
|
943.09
|
|
176.57
|
|
4
|
|
Fruits & vegetables
|
|
997.22
|
|
1178.56
|
|
18.18
|
|
5
|
|
Pulp and Waste paper
|
|
549.10
|
|
819.06
|
|
49.16
|
|
6
|
|
Textile yarn Fabric, made-up articles
|
|
938.71
|
|
948.72
|
|
1.07
|
|
7
|
|
Fertilisers, Crude & manufactured
|
|
2078.60
|
|
3761.58
|
|
80.97
|
|
8
|
|
Sulphur & Unroasted Iron Pyrites
|
|
129.59
|
|
95.86
|
|
-26.03
|
|
9
|
|
Metalliferous ores & other minerals
|
|
5567.19
|
|
3395.43
|
|
-39.01
|
|
10
|
|
Coal, Coke & Briquettes, etc.
|
|
16027.93
|
|
14583.03
|
|
-9.01
|
|
11
|
|
Petroleum, Crude & products
|
|
72359.44
|
|
81609.46
|
|
12.78
|
|
12
|
|
Wood & Wood products
|
|
3571.10
|
|
3487.26
|
|
-2.35
|
|
13
|
|
Leather & leather products
|
|
525.62
|
|
558.87
|
|
6.33
|
|
14
|
|
Organic & Inorganic Chemicals
|
|
13273.13
|
|
13282.00
|
|
0.07
|
|
15
|
|
Dyeing/tanning/colouring mtrls.
|
|
1610.80
|
|
1883.82
|
|
16.95
|
|
16
|
|
Artificial resins, plastic materials, etc.
|
|
9002.15
|
|
9238.32
|
|
2.62
|
|
17
|
|
Chemical material & products
|
|
4007.74
|
|
4349.32
|
|
8.52
|
|
18
|
|
Newsprint
|
|
354.93
|
|
493.57
|
|
39.06
|
|
19
|
|
Pearls, precious & Semi-precious stones
|
|
19777.67
|
|
20915.70
|
|
5.75
|
|
20
|
|
Iron & Steel
|
|
8776.25
|
|
10960.12
|
|
24.88
|
|
21
|
|
Non-ferrous metals
|
|
8101.69
|
|
7709.03
|
|
-4.85
|
|
22
|
|
Machine tools
|
|
2181.24
|
|
2943.32
|
|
34.94
|
|
23
|
|
Machinery, electrical & non-electrical
|
|
22157.70
|
|
22316.44
|
|
0.72
|
|
24
|
|
Transport equipment
|
|
11824.75
|
|
12310.45
|
|
4.11
|
|
25
|
|
Project goods
|
|
920.49
|
|
2397.60
|
|
160.47
|
|
26
|
|
Professional instrument, Optical goods, etc.
|
|
3030.67
|
|
3526.12
|
|
16.35
|
|
27
|
|
Electronic goods
|
|
32236.82
|
|
32485.60
|
|
0.77
|
|
28
|
|
Medicinal. & Pharmaceutical products
|
|
3177.79
|
|
3789.40
|
|
19.25
|
|
29
|
|
Gold
|
|
16219.71
|
|
22742.92
|
|
40.22
|
|
30
|
|
Silver
|
|
1738.20
|
|
759.57
|
|
-56.30
|
||
|
Sub Total
|
|
267301.85
|
|
290589.49
|
|
8.71
|
||
|
GRAND TOTAL
|
|
278441.24
|
|
301814.05
|
|
8.39
Note 1: Grand total is inclusive of component ‘Other’.
Note 2: The figures for MARCH'19 and MARCH'18 are provisional and subject to change
QUICK ESTIMATES FOR SELECTED MAJOR COMMODITIES FOR MARCH 2019
TRADE: IMPORT
|
|
Sl. No.
|
|
Commodities
|
|

|
|
% change
|
|
MAR'18
|
|
MAR'19
|
|
MAR'19
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
Cotton Raw & Waste
|
|
53.50
|
|
58.15
|
|
8.69
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
Vegetable Oil
|
|
842.30
|
|
964.50
|
|
14.51
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
Pulses
|
|
52.44
|
|
135.74
|
|
158.85
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
Fruits & vegetables
|
|
153.37
|
|
169.63
|
|
10.60
|
|
|
|
5
|
|
Pulp and Waste paper
|
|
84.45
|
|
117.89
|
|
39.60
|
|
|
|
6
|
|
Textile yarn Fabric, made-up articles
|
|
144.37
|
|
136.55
|
|
-5.42
|
|
|
|
7
|
|
Fertilisers, Crude & manufactured
|
|
319.68
|
|
541.40
|
|
69.36
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
Sulphur & Unroasted Iron Pyrites
|
|
19.93
|
|
13.80
|
|
-30.76
|
|
|
|
9
|
|
Metalliferous ores & other minerals
|
|
856.21
|
|
488.70
|
|
-42.92
|
|
|
|
10
|
|
Coal, Coke & Briquettes, etc.
|
|
2465.03
|
|
2098.92
|
|
-14.85
|
|
|
|
11
|
|
Petroleum, Crude & products
|
|
11128.58
|
|
11745.99
|
|
5.55
|
|
|
|
12
|
|
Wood & Wood products
|
|
549.22
|
|
501.92
|
|
-8.61
|
|
|
|
13
|
|
Leather & leather products
|
|
80.84
|
|
80.44
|
|
-0.49
|
|
|
|
14
|
|
Organic & Inorganic Chemicals
|
|
2041.35
|
|
1911.67
|
|
-6.35
|
|
|
|
15
|
|
Dyeing/tanning/colouring mtrls.
|
|
247.73
|
|
271.14
|
|
9.45
|
|
|
|
16
|
|
Artificial resins, plastic materials, etc.
|
|
1384.49
|
|
1329.66
|
|
-3.96
|
|
|
|
17
|
|
Chemical material & products
|
|
616.37
|
|
625.99
|
|
1.56
|
|
|
|
18
|
|
Newsprint
|
|
54.59
|
|
71.04
|
|
30.13
|
|
|
|
19
|
|
Pearls, precious & Semi-precious stones
|
|
3041.72
|
|
3010.38
|
|
-1.03
|
|
|
|
20
|
|
Iron & Steel
|
|
1349.75
|
|
1577.48
|
|
16.87
|
|
|
|
21
|
|
Non-ferrous metals
|
|
1246.01
|
|
1109.55
|
|
-10.95
|
|
|
|
22
|
|
Machine tools
|
|
335.47
|
|
423.63
|
|
26.28
|
|
|
|
23
|
|
Machinery, electrical & non-electrical
|
|
3407.76
|
|
3211.99
|
|
-5.74
|
|
|
|
24
|
|
Transport equipment
|
|
1818.60
|
|
1771.83
|
|
-2.57
|
|
|
|
25
|
|
Project goods
|
|
141.57
|
|
345.08
|
|
143.75
|
|
|
|
26
|
|
Professional instrument, Optical goods, etc.
|
|
466.10
|
|
507.51
|
|
8.88
|
|
|
|
27
|
|
Electronic goods
|
|
4957.89
|
|
4675.63
|
|
-5.69
|
|
|
|
28
|
|
Medicinal. & Pharmaceutical products
|
|
488.73
|
|
545.41
|
|
11.60
|
|
|
|
29
|
|
Gold
|
|
2494.52
|
|
3273.37
|
|
31.22
|
|
|
|
30
|
|
Silver
|
|
267.33
|
|
109.32
|
|
-59.11
|
|
|
||
|
Sub Total
|
|
41109.90
|
|
41824.31
|
|
1.74
|
|
|
||
|
GRAND TOTAL
|
|
42823.08
|
|
43439.86
|
|
1.44
|
|
Note 1: Imports include Re-Imports.
Note 2: The figures for MARCH'19 and MARCH'18 are provisional and subject to change.
Note 3: Grand total is inclusive of component ‘Other’.